Cava Mezze Grill

280 Madison Avenue, Manhattan, NY 10016
Mexican / Latin
Last inspected: Jan 7, 2026
74
Score
Medium Risk NYC Grade: A

Inspectors have visited Cava Mezze Grill three times, with records going back to 2023. Cava Mezze Grill was last inspected on Jan 7, 2026. The medium risk tier sits in the middle: not spotless, but not alarming either.

The trend has been favorable: violation counts have eased from around four violations to closer to two violations per visit over the last few inspections.

The most common issue across all inspections has been “food, supplies, or equipment not protected from potential source”, showing up two times.

That falls roughly in the middle of the pack for Manhattan restaurants. The inspection history reads as standard for a restaurant of this size.

3
Inspections
2
Critical latest
0
Major latest
0
Minor latest
Inspection History
Jan 7, 2026
Cycle Inspection / Initial Inspection
2 critical violations.
View 2 violations
Personal cleanliness is inadequate. outer garment soiled with possible contaminant. effective hair restraint not worn where required. jewelry worn on hands or arms. fingernail polish worn or fingernails not kept clean and trimmed.
06A
Hot tcs food item not held at or above 140 °f.
02B
74
May 1, 2024
Cycle Inspection / Re-inspection
2 critical violations. 1 minor violation.
View 3 violations
Food, supplies, or equipment not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display, service or from customer’s refillable, reusable container. condiments not in single-service containers or dispensed directly by the vendor.
06C
Food contact surface not properly washed, rinsed and sanitized after each use and following any activity when contamination may have occurred.
06D
Anti-siphonage or back-flow prevention device not provided where required; equipment or floor not properly drained; sewage disposal system in disrepair or not functioning properly. condensation or liquid waste improperly disposed of.
10B
70
Jun 15, 2023
Cycle Inspection / Initial Inspection
3 critical violations. 2 minor violations.
View 5 violations
Filth flies or food/refuse/sewage associated with (frsa) flies or other nuisance pests in establishment’s food and/or non-food areas. frsa flies include house flies, blow flies, bottle flies, flesh flies, drain flies, phorid flies and fruit flies.
04N
Food, supplies, or equipment not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display, service or from customer’s refillable, reusable container. condiments not in single-service containers or dispensed directly by the vendor.
06C
Wiping cloths not stored clean and dry, or in a sanitizing solution, between uses.
06F
Establishment is not free of harborage or conditions conducive to rodents, insects or other pests.
08A
Anti-siphonage or back-flow prevention device not provided where required; equipment or floor not properly drained; sewage disposal system in disrepair or not functioning properly. condensation or liquid waste improperly disposed of.
10B
58

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Cava Mezze Grill last inspected?

The most recent health inspection at Cava Mezze Grill on file is from Jan 7, 2026. The public record contains three inspections in total.

What is the most common violation at Cava Mezze Grill?

Across the inspection record, “food, supplies, or equipment not protected from potential source” has been cited two times, more than any other issue at Cava Mezze Grill.

How does Cava Mezze Grill compare to other restaurants in Manhattan?

Cava Mezze Grill most recently scored 74 out of 100, which is about the same as the Manhattan average of 77.

Has Cava Mezze Grill's inspection record improved over time?

Yes. Recent inspections at Cava Mezze Grill have averaged around two violations per visit, down from roughly four earlier in the record.

What does a medium risk rating mean?

A medium risk rating at Cava Mezze Grill means the most recent inspection turned up a handful of issues that the health department wrote up but did not classify as critical.

How often is Cava Mezze Grill inspected?

Based on the inspection history on file, Cava Mezze Grill is inspected roughly once per year on average.